Camfed Zimbabwe

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Partner Description:

Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) is an international nonprofit organization that focuses on eradicating poverty in rural Africa by investing in education for girls and supporting the economic self-reliance and leadership of young women. Founded in the UK and Zimbabwe 20 years ago, Camfed’s Model is one of partnership – with government departments, schools, traditional and civic authorities, parents and children – through which communities design and drive solutions that advance educational, social and economic progress.

The organization operates in five African countries: Zimbabwe, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. In 2012, Camfed improved the educational status of over 2 million children and young people through a network of 4,743 schools. Alongside direct support to girls and vulnerable boys to go to school, Camfed invests in improving the quality of education through resources and child protection and teacher training initiatives. This is particularly impactful in Africa, where the reluctance of many urban-educated teachers to take jobs in rural communities for long periods and the dearth of rural-educated teachers undermines the quality of the rural school system.

Kiva lenders’ funds are used to help women living in rural Zimbabwe to expand their businesses, become more self-reliant, and simultaneously help young girls access quality education. In exchange for receiving capital and business support to establish profit-making enterprises, women borrowers will commit to repaying in social capital as volunteer teaching assistants in local high schools. Borrowers will teach girls Math, English and a Wellbeing Curriculum that covers critical skills including decision-making, problem solving, leadership, entrepreneurship, resilience, communication skills and empathy. In this way, Camfed borrowers will thus pay the “interest” on their loan in the form of social change.

Camfed’s impact:

The girls Camfed supports are identified by their communities based on need and potential. The organization helps them at every stage of their development, from primary school through adulthood. Its comprehensive programs enable girls to get into school, excel academically and maximize the value of their education after they graduate. By helping the most vulnerable and marginalized members of a community, Camfed is able to help develop school environments that benefit all students.

Camfed begins by providing the school fees, supplies and uniforms that many girls’ families can’t afford. Through its extended network -- including trained school mentors -- the organization ensures that girls are fully supported emotionally and academically. This is especially vital for children who have been orphaned or are the heads of their households. After they graduate from secondary school, Camfed helps them learn how to manage money and launch small businesses. Finally, it offers them the ability to join the Cama alumni network. Cama members share a common commitment to supporting each other and giving back to their rural communities as leaders, trainers, entrepreneurs, health activists, students, professionals and champions of information and communications technology.

Awards and honors:

As part of its 800th anniversary celebration, the University of Cambridge named Camfed as its Charity of the Year. Camfed USA earned the highest rating awarded by Charity Navigator for its efficient financial practices. Additionally, former Camfed bursary recipient Abigail Kaindu was appointed as one of 10 global youth advocates to the United Nations Secretary General's Youth Advocacy Panel, part of a new Education First Initiative to put every child in school.

Kiva Fundraising Status

Other Information Sources

Camfed Zimbabwe's Mission Statement

To fight poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa by educating girls and empowering women to become leaders of change.

Why Kiva Works With Camfed Zimbabwe

Like Kiva, Camfed focuses on empowering women and expanding opportunity for the world’s poor. The organization is tackling poverty by helping girls attend school and receive the support they need to excel academically, emotionally and professionally. Graduates of Camfed’s programs have gone on to safe, economically-independent and successful futures -- and have also prioritized investing in their communities and helping younger girls follow in their footsteps. Kiva is very excited about the partnership with Camfed and the opportunity to help its alumni start and grow small businesses.